Private Tour
Kobe Shore Excursion: 1-Day Tour by Car to Kyoto, Osaka or Nara
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
・Whether you’re arriving by cruise or staying in the city, this private tour is the best way to explore the Kansai region at your own pace.
・Visit Kobe or nearby destinations such as Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, or Himeji — or head off the beaten path to charming countryside towns and hidden gems, all within a comfortable day-trip distance.
・We’ll design a personalized itinerary based on your schedule, interests, and the beauty of each season. Just share your requests after booking!
・Your driver-guide is a local expert who knows the best routes, scenic spots, and local favorites — ensuring a smooth and memorable experience.
・Travel comfortably in a clean, cozy private wagon — with flexible pickup and timing to avoid crowds and make the most of your day.
・We aim to travel responsibly — avoiding overtourism and busy spots while introducing the hidden beauty of Kansai. Discover peaceful, authentic places where everyday life in Japan quietly unfolds.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Souvenir photo taken by your guide
English-speaking licensed driver-guide
The vehicle is a family wagon. As luggage space is limited, we recommend bringing only one bag per person. Parking fees, fuel, and highway tolls are included in the tour price.
Meals are not included, but your guide will do their best to find and take you to a restaurant that suits your taste.
If you choose to enter any facilities during the tour, please pay the entrance fee on site. If you would like your guide to accompany you inside, kindly cover the admission fee for the guide as well.
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Kobe
Kobe is a scenic port city surrounded by mountains and sea, known for its rich international history and elegant atmosphere. "The Kitano Ijinkan district" features Western-style houses from the 19th century, while "Harborland" offers waterfront views and shopping. "Ikuta Shrine", one of Japan’s oldest, stands in the city center. "The Nada district" is home to many sake breweries, offering insight into traditional brewing culture. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views from "Mount Rokko". Kobe is also famous for its refined "Kobe beef" and a blend of Japanese and Western influences throughout the city.
Kyoto
【90min from Kobe】Kyoto is a city steeped in history, known for its countless temples, shrines, and traditional wooden townscapes. While famous areas like Gion and Arashiyama attract large crowds, traveling by private vehicle offers a chance to escape the busy tourist spots and discover hidden gems in the surrounding countryside. Quiet gardens, lesser-known temples, and scenic rural landscapes await just a short drive from the city center. With a private car, you can enjoy a more relaxed pace, avoid public transport congestion, and explore places that offer a deeper, more tranquil side of Kyoto away from the usual tourist trail.
Options
Private Wagon / driver-guide
Pickup included
Reviews
7 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Zack is the best!
robert d,
Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Zack showed us a wonderful time in Kobe. Very informative. We had lost our luggage an he stayed with us at the end to help with getting the luggage.
Amazing time in Kyoto
Vera G,
Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Zack was very helpful and punctual. He arranged the schedule according to our wishes and was very sensitive to our interests and time constraints. He took us to secret streets of Kyoto that were beautiful and uncrowded. He even gave us excellent recommendations where to go during our subsequent weekend in the mountains on Kumano trail. We highly recommend Zack
Flexible tour of Kyoto with excellent young guide
Steve M,
Aug 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Full day flexible tour of Kyoto highlights with excellent guide. (Yamazaki Takahisa or "Zack"). Couldn't have been happier- excellent value.
A WONDERFUL family experience with Zack, a personable and knowledgeable tour guide. Highly recommend!
pamsP1155IQ,
Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We spent a fantastic day with Zack, our driver from Kobe, Japan. He worked with us in advance to make a custom itinerary to accommodate the short time we had during our cruise stop in the port of Kobe. The entire experience was wonderful, from the welcome sign held for us at the port, to his amazingly clean and spacious vehicle. Zack was very personable and professional throughout the day, and is very knowledgeable about his region of Japan. Highlights included feeding the adorable deer in Nara, visits to beautiful temples and shrines, and a tour of a famous Sake Brewery (including samples!) in Kobe. We had lunch with Zack in a sushi restaurant, and he made the experience fun and not at all intimidating. Zack provided many special touches throughout the day (ice cold bottles of water in HOT Japan, umbrellas to keep out the sun, to name only two). As an added bonus, Zack took some fantastic photos of our family throughout the experience which he sent to us at the end of the day. We would 100% book with Zack again, and highly recommend him. What a wonderful experience!
A fantastic family experience with a WONDERFUL guide. Recommend 100%
Pamela Z,
Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our driver and guide, Zack, was an absolute gem. Everything about our day with Zack was exceptional - from the welcome with our name on a sign, to the many thoughtful touches (for example the bottles of cold water on a scorching hot day in Japan). Zack's vehicle was spotless, spacious and cool in the blazing sun. He is very knowledgeable about, and proud of, his region of Japan and easily answered our questions. He shared many interesting snippets of Japanese history and explained the significance of things in an engaging manner. Our lunch with him in a local sushi restaurant was very fun and not at all intimidating - he made ordering effortless! And to top it all off, he took some amazing photos of our family throughout the day which he sent to us for free after the excursion ended. We highly recommend Zack for anyone visiting the beautiful Kobe area of Japan, and we would 100% book with him again in future.
Osaka Expo 2025
Kenneth L,
Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Well organized. Great communication after booking. Great guide! He kept us informed during the booking process/trying to plan excursion of all our options. Seiho san was awesome!
Best experience ever ever ever
SabbaghELMO,
Jul 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing day, our guide was a blast! We can’t even find the words to describe how professional kind and beyond expectations he was ! Never dreamed of such greatness and kindness! Billion thanks are not even enough! Keep doing your magic !
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